Her he had seen at all hours and in all
circumstances. She never disturbed him but was ready to talk when he wished
to listen, listened eagerly when he talked, and was silent and beautiful
and restful to look at when he wished to indulge in the dissipation of
mental laziness.
As she loved him, she showed him only the best that there was in her and
showed it in the most attractive of all lights.
While he was still wavering or fancying that he was wavering, the Managing
Editor sent him to "do" a great strike-riot in the coal regions of
Pennsylvania. He was there for three weeks, active day and night,
interested in the new phases of life--the mines and the miners, the display
of fierce passions, the excitement, the peril.
When he returned to New York, Alice had ceased to tempt him.
* * * * *
One midnight in the early spring he was in his sitting room, reading and a
little bored. There came a knock at the door. He hoped that it was some one
bringing something interesting or coming to propose a search for something
interesting. "Come in," he said with welcome in his voice. The door opened.
It was Alice.
She was dressed much as she had been the first time he talked with her--a
loose, clinging wrapper open at the throat.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69